REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER 



263 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



specialists to besiin operations as early as circumstances will permit. It has been 

 impressed vipon the farmers of the country, in previous reports, that they are likely to 

 have best results from their incubators when operated in early or middle April. There 

 has been no reason to alter this advice. 



An object aimed at in our departmental spring work of last year was to have all 

 hatching by incubators over by the end of May. As conditions were favourable this 

 result was attained. The experience of many years has clearly shown that chickens 

 hatched in early May are the most satisfactory to rear in brooder or by hen. Should 

 it be desired to successfully hatch and rear a number of chickens, in the late winter 

 or early spring months, the aid of special facilities in the shape of incubator room 

 and brooder house will be found indispensable. 



HATCHING BY INCUBATORS. 



The results of the hatching by incubators during the months of !^^arch, April 

 and May of last year are shown in the following table. Distinction is marked between 

 the eggs from the cold houses and those from the warmed ones. The incubators were 

 filled at three different dates, viz. : March 29, April 7, and May 7, 1906 :— 



First Setting. — Incubators Filled March 29, 1 906. 



Description of Eggs. 



Barred P. Rocks and W. 



Wyandottes 



BuflF Orpington's 





c8 rtj 

 I— I JJ 



V <- ■ 

 S^Eti be 



cp O ^ 



Ph 



— D 



o m 



5 be 



~ bo 



cS :« 



C O 



§3 o 



r 



82| 

 70i 



42} 



32i 



Remarks. 



Eggs from unheated houses. 

 II warmed houses. 



Second Period — Incubators Filled April 7, 1906. 



